5.3.1 Description of the Region 1 



Fish and wildlife resources are diverse and varied along the coastal 

 shoreline and continental shelf of Washington State. The region is 

 characterized by a relatively narrow continental shelf and large inland 

 bays and estuaries . 



Washington State has 2,337 miles of coastline comprising 157 miles 

 along the Pacific and 2,180 miles along inland waterways and estuaries. 

 Further, it has the largest estuaries on the Pacific Coast. The most 

 important of Washington's estuaries are Willapa Bay (70,400 acres), 

 Grays Harbor (61,400 acres), and Puget Sound (1.6 million acres). These 

 estuaries are migration and spawning areas for commercially and recreation- 

 ally important fish and shell fish. 



Salmon (coho, sockeye, chinook, pink and chum) are the most important 

 fishery resource in Washington State. Flounder, rockfish, ling cod, hake, 

 halibut, Pacific herring, and Pacific ocean perch are also commercially 

 important. In addition, razor clams are a major recreational resource (8.6 

 million harvested annually between 1967 and 1971). Dungeness crabs and 

 bay clams also contribute to the sport harvest. In 1972, 500,000 sport 

 fishermen landed 5 million pounds of shellfish valued at $3.8 million. 



A number of marine mammals inhabit the State's coastal waters. The 

 California sea lion, Steller sea lion, fur seal and harbor seal all live 

 and breed along Washington's ocean coast. Destruction Island is a major 

 harbor seal pupping area. Further, much of the shallow shelf is used by 

 the endangered gray and Pacific right whales. 



Washington State is on the Pacific flyway for waterfowl. Virtually 

 the entire coastal area, including harbors and offshore islands is used 



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